Roku Announces Philippines Telecom Operator PLDT Licenses Roku Platform to Launch New Streaming Service and Player

AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(IBC) Roku, Inc. and PLDT today announced that PLDT is the fifth operator that has joined the Roku Powered™ program, and the first operator in Asia to leverage the Roku® streaming platform to deliver TV services to its broadband customers. The new PLDT streaming service and streaming player are expected to launch during Q2 2017 and combine the best local Philippines content from Cignal and iflix with content from global providers.

“In the past, operators first had to build or lease dedicated infrastructure in order to deliver TV services to the home, but with streaming that is no longer the case. As a result, we see a lot of interest from all over the world for our Roku Powered program from both telecom and pay TV operators,” said Andrew Ferrone, vice president pay TV at Roku. “With its fast fiber and DSL infrastructure, PLDT is in a perfect position to leverage the Roku streaming platform and quickly deploy a proven, low-cost, turn-key solution and launch an innovative TV service to its broadband customers.”

“The Roku Powered program allows PLDT to expand its offerings to consumers to be a leader in OTT in the Philippines,” said Oscar Reyes Jr., PLDT First Vice President and Head of Home Operations. “We’ll be able to offer consumers a low-cost device with access to the best content from the Philippines and around the world through an easy-to-use user interface.”

Under the Roku Powered license, operators leverage the Roku streaming platform, including Roku’s low-cost streaming players, to deliver live TV and streaming services to their customers. Roku provides operators with an end-to-end solution including device designs, ongoing software updates, platform hosting, application development support and certification.

Since announcing the program at IBC in 2014, Roku has expanded its offerings in the Roku Powered program to better meet the needs of operators:

Operators can now choose between a streaming player or hybrid streaming and over-the-air (OTA) set-top box that includes a tuner. Sky UK was the first operator to launch this new hybrid set-top box named the NOW TV Smart Box just weeks ago in the UK.

The simple Roku OS home screen can now be customized for a content-first experience to allow operators to more effectively merchandise content to their customers. Examples of this customization can be viewed on the Now TV Box in the UK and Italy. In addition, operators can curate their content offerings from the Roku Channel Store.

Expanded DRM support with additional technologies such as Cisco VideoGuard and Verimatrix ViewRight in addition to Microsoft PlayReady and Adobe PrimeTime allow for secure streaming and monetization of premium video content.

About PLDT Inc.

PLDT is the leading telecommunications and digital services provider in the Philippines. Through its principal business groups – fixed line, wireless and others – PLDT offers a wide range of telecommunications and digital services across the Philippines’ most extensive fiber optic backbone, and fixed line and cellular networks.

PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:TEL) and its American Depositary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI). PLDT has one of the largest market capitalizations among Philippine listed companies.

About Roku, Inc.

Roku is the creator of a popular streaming platform for delivering entertainment to the TV. Roku streaming players are sold through major retailers in North America and Europe. Roku licenses a reference design and operating system to TV OEMs to create co-branded Roku TV™ models. Under the Roku Powered program, Roku licenses its streaming platform to service providers around the world who want to use the Internet to deliver entertainment services through streaming players. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. Roku is privately held and headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., U.S.A.

Roku is a registered trademarks and Roku TV and Roku Powered are trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries.

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